Locking device



H. DYER LOCKING DEVXCE .L 3 9 l 6, 2 t.

2 Sheets sheet 2 Original Filed July 5, 1935 INVENTOR f ATTORNEYS;

Reissued Oct. 26, 1937 Re.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE Harold I. Dyer, Battle Creek, Mich., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Original No. 2,035,055, dated March 24, 1936, Se-

rial No. 29,981, July 5, 1935. Application for reissue March 22, 1937, Serial No. 132,349

10 Claims. (Cl. 151-21) 'This invention relates to locking devices for would ordinarily cause the parts to work loose or holding screw threaded parts in any desired prebecome separated and defeat the very purpose for determined position without the use of locking which the adjustment has beenmade. nuts or any other auxiliary device to hold the The member I is preferably hollow or tubular,

Ii threaded parts ina desired predetermined adjustand provided with internal screw threads II.

ment. When locking nuts are employed, to hold One end of the member is provided with an enthreaded parts in predetermined adjustment: larged head I2 against which a cam operates such as, in valve mechanism for internal comwhen the device is employed for a valve tappet. busticn engines, it is necessary to use three The other or male member I3 consists of a stem l0 wrenches on certain types of mechanisms. Inprovided with a head I 4 which may engage a l0 accurate adjustments are often made due to the valve stem or rocker arm (not shown). troublesome handling of so many tools and the T -he member I3 is provided with two threaded movement of the thread parts when the lock nut sections I5 and I6, the threads of which are of is tightened, because of the tendency of athreadthe same pitch, and adapted to have a screwed part to move in the direction of the lock nut. threaded fit with the threads II of the member l5 The present invention is adaptable for any use III. 'Ihe threads of section I5 of the member I3 wherein it is necessary to lock threaded parts in and the threads of section I6 are interrupted by any predetermined position, and is particularly a mismatched lead, that is, the rib of the threads adaptable to valve mechanisms, brake rods, slack of sections I5 and I6 are not a true continuation adjusters, turnbuckles, etc., as there is no locking or in alinement with respect to each other. The 20 nut or any other auxiliary device to hold the dotted line I1 of Fig. 2 indicates a continuation threaded parts in predetermined position. The of the thread of section I5, throughout the length threaded parts are so designed that the internal of stem I3 and onto the lower section I6, while or external threads thereof are in contact at the the full lines indicate the oil'set relation of the side of the thread where the pressure in operathread of section I6 with respect Yto the threads 25 tion will force the threads together. of section I5.

The invention further consists in the novel It is to be noted that the member I3, as shown manner of constructing the parts and the arin Fig. 2, discloses the threaded sections I5 and rangement of the threads thereof, so that when I6 as being separated by a space I3 with each the parts are joined together, africtional locking section in itself having the same or standard 30 engagement is provided with the threads of the pitch. Assuming, as indicated by the dotted line members sufficient to hold the members together I l, that the threads of the section I5 continue in their adjusted relation regardless of the throughout the length of the member I3 and a amount of shock or vibration transmitted thereto. measurement was taken of the pitch between the The invention consists of certain novel features threads of the section I5 with respect to the pitch 35 of construction and combination of parts which of the threads of the section I6, the pitch between will be hereinafter described and set forth in the the threads oithe sections I5 and I6 would be appended claims. shorter than the pitch oi' either oi the threads In the accompanying drawings: of section I5 or I6. The shortened pitch or lead 40 Fig. 1 is a view in elevation and partly in secbetween the sections I5 and IE may be changed 40 tion showing the invention with the parts in to any amount sufficient to give the required locked position; thrust to the thread. This thrust causes section Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the IG to pull downwardly on section I5 as they are members; screwed into the member Ill, causing section I5 Fig, 3 is a bottom plan view thereof to be frictionally held in any predetermined po- 45 Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views in vertical section sltion. The threads I5 of the member I3 are illustrating the manner in which the members therefore axially displaced with respect to the are assembled. vthread I6, thereby producing an interrupted lead In the drawings, the invention is disclosed in between the two sections I5 and i6. connection with a valve tappet, but it is not the The lower portion of the member I3 is bifur- 50 intent to be limited to this particular disclosure, cated as at I8, so that the end is bifurcated in as it is evident that the invention is capable of two directions with the bifurcations intersecting. application to many other uses where ne or This bifurcation IB preferably extends a short nice" adjustments must be procured, and the distance into the member I3 beyond the lower parts subjected to vibrations and shocks which portion of the upper threadedsection I5. Also 55 BEST AVArLAeLE coPv in practice it has been found feasible to produce an annular recess I3 between the two threaded sections I5 and I6, which together with the bifurcations I8 provide the desired resiliency to the lower end of this member I3 to permit of the two threaded sections being attached to the tubular member I0. In Fig. 1 the lower end of the member I3 is shown cored with the `walls bifurcated or slotted at I8.

As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 which show the method of assembly of the two members, the lower portion I6 of the male member I3 ls screwed into the tubular member I 0. Then, as the threaded portion I5 takes into the threads II of the tubular member I0, as indicated in Fig. 5, the lower section I5 will be caused to contract, which is permissible due to its bifurcation, thereby permitting the threads of the section I5 to engage and screw into the internal threads II of the tubular member I IJ. Due to the lack of continuance between the ribs of the threads of the sections I5 and I6, the threads of the section IE will impinge against the upper face of the threads II of the tubular member Ill, while the threads of section I5 will impinge against the lower face of the threads II of the tubular member I0, as shown in Fig. l. This engagement of the threads of the tubular member with the threads of the two sections of the male member causes a locking of the male member in the tubular member, as the threads of the lower member I5 are exerting a tensional pull downward on the threads of the section I5, and thereby frictionally locking the member I3 and the member Il to the desired adjustment.

The amount of offset or interruption of the threads of the sections I5 and I6 is governed by the degree of thrust and tension deemed necessary to be imparted to the threads in frictionally locking the two members together. 'Ihe slots or bifurcations il and the reduced portion I9 permit the lower end of the stem. or member I3 to contract or yield sufficiently to compensate for a greater or leser thrust on the threads as may be caused by too tight or loose a fit between the members.

Referring to Fig. 1, the adjusting screw or member I3 is shown in locked position, the locking of the screw I3 being accomplished by shortening the interrupted lead between the threaded sections I5 and l5. When the threaded member I3 is fitted to the mating member III, the threads on section I5 thereof t somewhat loosely, and as the threads of section I5 start to enter the threaded mating member I0, as shown in Fig. 5, the lead of the screw being slightly shorter between the threaded sections I5 and IE, pulls the threaded section I5 downward and holds the threaded section I5 in tension. The slots Il permit the section I6 to yield sulciently as the section I5 is screwed into the member IU, as otherwise the members I and I3 would lock, or prevent the members from being screwed together without stripping the threads of one of the members.

In the manufacture of the threaded member I3, a good grade of material that retains its flexibility and yields to compensate for the interrupted thread lead is desirable, as the yielding of the section I6, which is provided for by slotting the end of the screw or member I3, is for the purpose of providing the proper tensioning on the threaded section I5, as shown on the enlarged view of Fig. l. Any desired amount of locking power can be obtained by controlling the amount the interrupted or mismatched lead is shortened baween the sections I and IB as shown by the botted line IT, as when a material is selected that will retain the resilient yielding portion, as shown in section I6 in Fig. 1, the holding power to retain the threaded members in fixed position is permanently retained.

While it has been shown that the member I3 is provided with the two sets of threads I5 and I6, and which threads are interrupted, this same arrangement of threads could be applied to the member I 0, and the member I3 provided with threads having the ribs thereof in uniform relation throughout the length of the member I3.

Furthermore, the threads of the sections I5 and I6 could be so arranged that the threads I6 would exert a push on the threads I5 causing them to engage the upper face of the thread of the member IU, and the threads of the section I6 to engage the lower face of the threads. or just the opposite from the disclosure as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the foregoing description only describes one use of the invention, and the same locking'. method may be applied to many uses where it is desired to retain threaded parts locked in predetermined position, and that other threaded devices may employ the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

,What I claim is:

1. A self-locking screw having a pair of axially spaced threaded sections connected by an unthreaded portion, the lead of the thread of one of said sections being offset axially from the lead of the thread of the other section, said screw having an axially extending slot therein extending throughout the length of one of said threaded sections dividing the same into a pair of portions.

2. A self-locking screw having a pair of axially spaced, integrally connected, axially aligned, threaded sections connected by an unthreaded portion, the lead of the thread of one o1' said sections being o'set axially from the lead of the thread of the other of said sections.

3. A self-locking screw having a pair of coaxial, integrally connected, axially spaced threaded sections connected by an unthreaded portion, the lead of the thread of one of said sections being axially odset from the lead of the thread of the other section, said screw having an axially extending slot therein extending throughout the length of one oi' said threaded sections.

4. A self-locking screw having a substantially cylindrical externally threaded shank, a pair of projections integrally formed on said shank and axially extending therefrom, portions of the surfaces of said projections having threads thereon of substantially the same pitch diameter as the threads on said shank but having the lead thereof offset axially from the lead of the thread on said shank, the threads on said portions being axially spaced from the threads on said shank.

5. A self-locking screw having a substantially cylindrical externally threaded shank and a bifurcated projection extending axially therefrom,

axially offset with respect to the lead on said shank.

6. A self-locking connection comprising an internally threaded member and an externally threaded screw adapted to be received therein, said screw having a pair of integrally connected axially spaced threaded sections interconnected by means of a portion o! reduced diameter, said screw having an axially extending slot formed therein extending from one of theends of said screw throughout the. length of one of said threaded sections and substantially throughout the length of said reduced diameter portion, the lead of the threadV of one of said sections being axially offset with respect to the lead of the thread of the other of said sections whereby the threads on said slotted threaded section may be displaced radially inwardly as said screw is threaded into said member.

7. A self locking screw comprising a. shank portion including a pair of axially spaced, integrally connected threaded sections, the lead of the thread of one of said sections being o'set axially with respect to the lead of the thread of the other of said sections, said screw having an axially extending slot extending throughout one of said sections, the portion of said screw shank interconnecting said threaded sections being of reduced diameter.

8. A self locking screw comprising a shank portion including a pair of axially spaced, integrally connected threaded sections, the lead oi' the thread oi' one of said sections being offset axially with respect to the lead of the thread of the other of said sections, the portion ci said screw shank interconnecting said threaded sections being of substantial length and having a diameter substantially less than the pitch diameter of said threaded sections, said screw shank having a diametrically disposed slot formed therein extending axially throughout the length of one of said threaded sections.

9. A self locking screw comprising a shank portion having a pair of coaxially arranged axially spaced, integrally connected threaded sections, said threads of said sections being of identical pitch and identical pitch diameter, the lead of the thread of one of said sections being axially oiiset with respect to the lead of the thread of the other of said sections, said screw shank having a diametrically disposed axially extending slot extending from one axial end of said screw throughout one of said threaded sections and throughout the portion of said screw shank interconnecting said threaded sections.

l0. A self locking screw comprising a shank portion including a pair of axially spaced, integrally connected threaded sections, the lead of the thread of one of said sections being offset axially with respect to the lead oi.' the thread of the other of said sections, the portion of said screw shank interconnecting said threaded sections being of substantial length and having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said threaded sections, .said screw shank having a diametrically disposed axially extending slot formed therein extending from one axial end of said screw throughout one of said threaded sections and throughout the portion interconnecting said threaded sections, thereby turning one of said threaded sections into two separate portions adapted for limited resilient radial movement with respect to each other.

- HAROLD I. DYER. 

